As the Lord has been working some things in and out of me, He recently revealed my tendency for timidity. In his process of refinement, He does not condemn us, but shows us areas that we still have need of completely letting go and filling with Him. We can be timid about so many things in our world today, but in Christ we have the option to be bold and stouthearted. To believe the report of the Lord that surely we can take the land, as Joshua and Caleb believed God in the face of impossible circumstances. Though all their friends, family, and people cried out that surely they would suffer major defeats if they went into the promised land, these two dared to believe God. Let us do the same in everything we face – with God I can scale a wall, with God I can advance against a troop. The Lord is mighty to save. We have His great and precious promises that He come to give life and give it abundantly. Let us be the overcomers in this land, rather than the defeated. Let us operate in love and bold as a lion. Oh how much God can do with one heart fully committed to Him, believing His words to us as true even in the face of opposing circumstances.
I reveal not to condemn but to strengthen. I fill up what lacks. Take not My refining fires as defeat, but as a process unto victory. You wait for Me with bated breath, fully expecting My deliverance. Here do not lose your nerve, do not lose your courage, but walk with head held high looking only unto Me. Operate in My fruits of the Spirit, for against these there is no law. How high I desire to take you in Me. Look not to the pulls of the earth, the desires of your flesh, let these point you to Me for I Am your great reward, your Beloved. Let these show you where you are hungry and thirsty and come to Me for filling, for will I not burst forth rivers of living water to satisfy you fully and even pour out on those around you. I fill up every need. I give every supply.
Boldly proclaim all of My great and precious promises to you. Do not stand in the cold valley of fear, nor in the mud pit of despair, but walk in the green pastures, with the warm glow of the sun warming your face – drying your tears. Come my love, I have need of thee, I have more for you to experience in Me. Do not let the words of man, self-doubt, or the assaults of the enemy drag you down. Tune your hear to hear my gentle voice calling to My beloved sheep. Rest in Me. Let the strivings of the world pass by and walk right where I’ve led you. Even here, fill up this place with peace, pour out My love, let not your heart be troubled.
You do not yet perceive what I can do here in this place. You have hoped, but come to Me and sit in My counsel and let Me speak of you in the logic of faith, that all things are possible through Christ. Here there is no place for fear or dread, but a hope spring eternal as you look fully upon My beautiful face, as you commune with Me as friend with friend, as you let go and receive from Me. I will fill you to overflowing, not in the natural way you expect, but by supernatural means and ways. I will do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think. Do not get discouraged at the look or the timing of the thing, for all is Mine and you are Mine. Be at ease and fear ye not.
II Timothy 1:6-12
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
Numbers 14:2-9
“And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, ‘Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, ‘The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.’”